Headteacher

Job description

The Role: Pound Hill Infant Academy is seeking a dynamic, inspirational and child centered leader to join our team. Are you an experienced educational leader looking for an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young children? As an Infant school, we are looking for a Headteacher who has a strong understanding of early childhood education and the unique needs of children in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1). The ideal candidate will have significant experience within an Infant or Primary setting, with a proven ability to drive excellence in teaching, learning and outcomes for our youngest learners. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of excellence in educational leadership, with experience in managing highly effective teams. You will be committed to providing every child with an exceptional educational offer, ensuring they are supported, challenged and inspired to reach their full potential. You will champion high quality practice in EYFS and KS1, recognising the importance of nurturing children's confidence, curiosity and love of learning from the very beginning of their educational journey. We are located in Crawley, a short walk from Three Bridges train station. The school is part of the REAch2 Multi-Academy Trust family, having joined the Trust in March 2026. At Pound Hill, every child is recognised as a unique individual, and we celebrate the diversity within our school community. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of key skills, knowledge, concepts and values. We are looking for an outstanding leader with a proven track record of success, a passion for improving the life chances of children, and a deep understanding of how high-quality provision in EYFS and KS1 lays the foundations for lifelong learning and achievement. Our Mission: As a REAch2 Academy we are driven by a shared mission to provide the best possible education for all children in the Trust. Every REAch2 school within the Trust aspires to be truly ‘great’ - remarkable places characterised by exceptional people and transformative learning experiences. At Pound Hill Infant Academy we are committed to developing lifelong learners and responsible citizens with a clear vision for their future. Our Vision: To create a vibrant, inclusive community, transforming lives and broadening horizons through excellent teaching and learning. Our Values: Achieving Ambitions is about inspiring our people to be the best they can be, celebrating our success, dreaming big, and empowering our children to lead fulfilling lives. By doing this, we can transform lives and broaden horizons, while encouraging a culture of sustainability Working Together means we can create a vibrant, inclusive community that’s open and honest and shares ideas and best practices. We support and challenge each other to deliver great service and continually encourage collaboration and strong partnerships. Delivering Excellence ensures we are resilient and determined and develop a creative flag-ship curriculum for all our children delivered through excellent teaching and learning. Sharing expertise and knowledge, exploring possibilities, rewarding innovation, and challenging and motivating our children and staff to have high expectations and aspirations are all at the heart of this value. Nurturing Potential, last but not least, is focusing on treating others as we wish to be treated and empowering children and staff to flourish. From this, we attract and retain staff through flexible structures and career pathways and offer children and staff wellbeing support.. What we are looking for in our next Headteacher: We are seeking an outstanding senior leader with the passion, drive, and enthusiasm to build on our strengths. You will lead, motivate, develop, and inspire a team of staff and governors who are committed to providing pupils with a wide range of enriching experiences. We welcome applications from existing headteachers and talented deputy headteachers who have the knowledge and expertise to help us raise outcomes and consistently deliver excellence. You will have a clear understanding of what it takes for a school to maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning, whilst having the expertise to embed a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, you will demonstrate the ability to manage, prioritise, and organise your workload, show flexibility and resilience, and recognise the need for pastoral care for all members of the school community. Community engagement and outreach are important at Pound Hill Infant Academy, and we seek a headteacher who will work to further raise the school's profile in the local community to improve family engagement and pupil attendance. A commitment to supporting wellbeing and mental health is essential. We are a caring employer who invests in the future of our employees, as only through their excellence can we deliver excellence for the children and families we serve. As a member of REAch2 Academy Trust, a national family of primary academies,Pound Hill Infant Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellence for all pupils, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, with high expectations for staff and pupils alike. Key Responsibilities: Lead, motivate, and inspire a dedicated team of educators Drive excellence in teaching and learning Foster strong relationships with parents and the wider community Ensure the delivery of an exciting, broad, and engaging curriculum Uphold and promote our core values: high expectations, integrity, nurturing, always learning, working together, and taking responsibility, guide us daily. Supporting our vision: Aim high and achieve together. Requirements: Proven track record of excellence in educational leadership Experience in managing highly effective teams Commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for all children Relational and proactive approach with parents and the community Ability to inspire, challenge, and motivate The application process and timetable Application deadline: 9am, Friday 4th December 2026 School visits Please contact Justin Burtt to book a school tour. Interviews: Friday 11th December 2026 Contract details: Permanent Salary: L18 - L24 Start date: Spring Term 2027 To have a confidential conversation about the role and to arrange a school visit, please contact Justin Burtt Deputy Director of Education - justin.burtt@reach2.org, 07503925439. The candidates selected for interview will be informed after shortlisting and full details of the interview programme will be provided. Why Work with REAch2 Academy Trust? Join REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the UK's largest primary academy trusts, with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background. Here’s why joining our team can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice: Excellence & Development: We prioritise high standards and offer extensive professional development and career growth opportunities. Supportive & Collaborative: Be part of a strong, collaborative community of over 60 schools where every voice is valued, and best practices are shared. Well-being Focus: We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer robust well-being support for all staff. Diversity & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and believe that varied perspectives strengthen our schools. Innovation & Impact: Bring creativity to the classroom and make a real difference in children’s lives. Making a difference: Working with REAch2 means contributing to something bigger than yourself. You’ll be helping to shape the lives of young learners, making a meaningful impact on communities and future generations. Join us to grow your career, collaborate with passionate educators, and make a lasting impact on future generations. Benefits We offer a range of benefits to support your career and well-being: Generous Annual Leave: healthy work-life balance. Professional Development: Access diverse CPD and training opportunities to grow your skills. Flexible & Family-Friendly: We are committed to supporting flexible working and requests will be considered on an individual basis, including options such as part time, term-time, home working, and other options that work for both the employee and the Trust. Exclusive Discounts: Benefit from Blue Light Card offers and employee perks. Well-being Support: Receive comprehensive well-being and employee assistance for you and your family. Join REAch2 for a rewarding career with great benefits! Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils. We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity. For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please click here for our Safer Recruitment Policy. All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy. The Trust ensures all applicant data is stored and processed appropriately. For further details on how your information will be managed during the recruitment process please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applications.